France's protests turn violent as Macron faces political crisis

France is facing a severe crisis after weekend protests over rising living costs and declining public services escalated into widespread violence and looting, leaving the government of President Emmanuel Macron under intense pressure. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign, but Macron instead tasked him with restoring order and prosecuting those responsible. Over 500,000 people protested peacefully on Saturday, but violence erupted when masked activists joined, leading to an estimated 1,500 businesses being ransacked and around 1,000 police officers injured. The government faces criticism for inadequate security preparations, while political rivals like Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon exploit the unrest. With elections months away, France is also grappling with a financial crisis, and further major protests are planned for November 5th.